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10 Scares, 100 Discoveries: Scare 6 – Rockin Rabbit
For me, 2011 is about a year of change, fun and new experiences. With that in mind, I decided to create my own adventure, 1 Year, 10 Projects, 100 Discoveries. This post is part of that project. You can see all 10 Scares here and the entire project here. Enjoy the experiences, I sure am!
After completing the Rockin’ Rabbit and talking with friends, I finally realized that this wasn’t my first race. Darn. But, I’m going with it anyway, because for several years I’ve been too scared to sign up for one on my own.
Among the life lessons my swim coach taught he’d say, “Not racing is like practicing for a spelling test and then not taking it.” It meant that it wasn’t enough to show up to practice. You had to take the risk and race, otherwise, all your work is for nothing. I’ve been showing up for Boot Camp practice for about two months; it was time to put my training to the test.
When it comes to running a race it seems like most people are afraid of the same things – you’ll be the last to finish, you won’t be able to finish, etc. While everyone says, “Don’t worry, you’ll never be the last to finish,” you never quite believe them. I wonder if race instructors put a decoy in the race so no race participant has to be last 🙂
Surprisingly to my nerves, I wasn’t the last to finish, not even close. In fact, I came in #82, in the top 47% and two minutes off my goal time. Like getting a tattoo, immediately after finishing I was ready to sign up for my next race. The adrenaline rush from racing keeps you motivated, it gives you a reason to show up to practice on Monday. And that’s the only motivation that anyone ever needs.
Posted in 10 Scares, 100 Discoveries
10 Cities, 100 Discoveries: 10 Boardwalk Empire
Someone famous said, “Travel and change of place impart new vigor to the mind.” For me, it’s a new way of seeing things, or as Carrie, from Sex and the City said it’s reminding myself that, “[Everything] is just a plane ride way.” Besides, what would the journey, 1 Year, 10 Projects, 100 Discoveries, be without travel, or more specifically, 10 unique cities. This post is part of that project. You can see all 10 Cities here and the entire project here. Enjoy the ride, I sure am!
I had this preconceived notion that Atlantic City smelled awful. Maybe it came from a trip to Ocean City as a child. Nevertheless, curiosity took me to Atlantic City for 24 hours. I wish I had stayed longer.
Atlantic City is a place caught between two worlds. It has the lights of Vegas, the smell of the ocean, the pace of London and the old school feel of a place stuck in time. It was an unexpected combination that I loved.
My favorite way to explore a new place is by running the streets in the early hours of the morning. There’s a sense of magic in the quietness and watching as each town awakens. Even in the tourist section, you’re able to feel the essence of a town; experiencing it the way a local might.
Atlantic City started out in a cold, quiet fog; a sleepy town hiding the sins of the night from the morning light. But, with each pounding step against the Broadwalk, the city began to come alive. The fog lazily drifted away, the metal doors from store fronts lifted and the smell of bacon cooking mingled with the salty sea water. Once again, the Broadwalk was alive and waiting to provide the throngs of tourists with fun worth having; their own Chuck E Cheese moments of pure happiness.
Posted in 10 Cities, 100 Discoveries
The Carousel
Admittedly, I’m not an avid MadMen fan like most of my counterparts, but after this scene, I might just become one.
Mad Men: The Carousel from ray3c on Vimeo.
Nostalgia. It’s a tinge in your heart far more painful than memory alone.
Posted in Advertising, Video
Royal Wedding Spoofs
It always impresses me when big brands are able to move fast enough to capitalize on current events.
While not a new video/viral concept, kudos to T-Mobile for having the foresight to spoof the Royal Wedding in a fun, appealing way that the masses can relate to.
As a marketer, are you keeping abreast of current events that might tie to your brand? Is your brand, your team and your Executives open minded and limber enough to make a move when inspiration strikes?
Inspiration is all around us. Remember to stop and take the time to let it soak in.
Posted in Advertising, Marketing, Social Media, Video
Southwest Lemmings
In laymen’s terms, Southwest’s motto is to be/do things differently than other airlines. In order to provide consumers with the lowest fares, they do things differently. They don’t have first class. They don’t serve meals on flights. They don’t charge for checking bags. They don’t have predetermined seating. They don’t charge change fees (my absolute favorite). The icing on the cake was their loyalty program, where you earned one point for every flight flown, with sixteen points earning you two free one-way flights (with some black out flights). The program was simple. No crazy calculations, no spending extra money to buy points, no tiered point system based on whether you booked standard or business class or what your status was within their program. Like the rest of their business model, the program was simple. Every time I booked a flight on Southwest.com I was excited. I knew without thinking I was going to get “one point” for each flight taken. In fact, I was so excited over their program that I even purchased their credit card and started booking hotels and car rentals through their site because you could get points for those items too.
Over the years, went through a hate/love relationship with Southwest, but finally fell head over heels. I even blogged about them. In March, it all changed. Much to my (and others) chagrin, Southwest rolled out a new loyalty program, Rapid Rewards, that was shockingly and sadly very similar to all other airline loyalty programs. But, with even less “perks”. Other airlines are able to offer complimentary First Class upgrades and no baggage fees, whereas Southwest cannot.
Me? I’m making a commitment to return to US Airways. On Southwest, I’m just shy of Companion Pass status. But, their previous simple, loyalty program, “standard” no bag fees and no change fees were reasons why I consistently chose them over others, including US Air where I have Chairman status aka Southwest’s version of Companion Pass status. With the “same” loyalty program as other airlines and “less” perks, there’s no longer enough reasons to not only navigate to Southwest’s site first but also book a flight without even checking competitor sites. Southwest, with your new loyalty program you’ve lost a customer and avid traveler. Today, the only reason I’m booking Southwest is if their fares are lower than the competiors by over $200.
As a business woman, I get the decision. But, in a world where frequency and keeping current customers vs. fishing for new ones is the name of the game, is the new, tiered program really that cost effective?
10 Commitments, 100 Discoveries: #2 – Boot Camp Tough
Hi, I’m a self proclaimed commitment-phobe. But, I’m also one that is working very hard to change. Honestly, it’s one of my toughest struggles. But, I am proud to say it is one that I am chipping away at slowly but surely. One day, when I tell my kids of my fear of commitment they will just laugh and say, “No way, not you!”
With the commitment, 1 Year, 10 Projects, 100 Discoveries, I’m working to show myself that commitments are like trains; it doesn’t matter where they’re going. What matters is deciding to get on. Discoveries “#60-69″ are about commitments and plans. This post is part of that project. You can see all 10 commitments here and the entire project here. Focus on the plans, I sure am!
For over two years, I’ve been wanting to try Boot Camp. I remember back in college doing a similar program and it put me in the best shape of my life. I wanted to get back to that best shape. Alas, “living to work” and my worry of not being able to keep up, got in the way; until the Groupon was delivered to my inbox 🙂 A coupon for 85% off and a new way of living opened up the doors to make the commitment.
With everything, there were a few obstacles – the class was 15 miles away, my travel schedule a bit crazy, including a month long excursion through Europe and a change to my work/daily schedule would have to be made to accommodate. Nevertheless, I’m proud to say I did it! On March 15, I completed my first full month of Boot Camp without missing a single day. I’ve even made the commitment to continue for another month and am into my second week (I took a month off for Europe).
The outcome? Doing things I’ve never done before 🙂 Besides making some fabulous newfound friends, I dominated flag football, scaled some mountains (literally) and am slowly but surely getting back into “real” shape.
Posted in 10 Commitments, 100 Discoveries
10 Cities, 100 Discoveries: 9 – Pub Crawlin’
Someone famous said, “Travel and change of place impart new vigor to the mind.” For me, it’s a new way of seeing things, or as Carrie, from Sex and the City said it’s reminding myself that, “[Everything] is just a plane ride way.” Besides, what would the journey, 1 Year, 10 Projects, 100 Discoveries, be without travel, or more specifically, 10 unique cities. This post is part of that project. You can see all 10 Cities here and the entire project here. Enjoy the ride, I sure am!
When describing Dublin, Ireland I like to relate it to the story of The Three Little Bears. In that context, London was too big, Amsterdam too small and Dublin just right.
Home to Guinness (and yes, Guinness tastes 1,000 times better there), the Irish take much pride in their beers and whiskeys. In fact, the country’s emblem is actually the Guinness logo (a harp) reversed. Needless to say, what other experience could I have here than a authentic pub crawl through Dublin? I didn’t choose just any pub crawl, I chose the number one rated one – Dublin’s Literary Pub Crawl. The two hour crawl wound us in about a four block radius and covered bars where famous writers like James Joyce, Oscar Wilde and Jonathan Swift spent time or did something of meaning. The actors who doubled as tour guides were lively and knowledgable, making Dublin’s historic literary side come alive. The participants? Strangely enough, they were mostly locals or from neighboring towns visiting for the weekend. While the pub crawl wasn’t akin to the rowdy, stumble home drunk ones from our college days, it was definitely a memorable one.
Posted in 10 Cities, 100 Discoveries
10 Cities, 100 Discoveries: 8 Amsterdam Flowers
Someone famous said, “Travel and change of place impart new vigor to the mind.” For me, it’s a new way of seeing things, or as Carrie, from Sex and the City said it’s reminding myself that, “[Everything] is just a plane ride way.” Besides, what would the journey, 1 Year, 10 Projects, 100 Discoveries, be without travel, or more specifically, 10 unique cities. This post is part of that project. You can see all 10 Cities here and the entire project here. Enjoy the ride, I sure am!
When I first got to Amsterdam, I thought the postcards were ugly and fake. The rows of colors just looked silly and had no feeling to them. But then, I went to Keukenhof Gardens. In English, it means Kitchen Gardens. It was early in the season, so I didn’t quite see the exact image on the postcards, but I saw the beginnings and I could imagine the scene on the postcards. Even though it was just the start, the scene was breathtaking. Rows and rows of flowers for miles and miles. The tour driver said that it’s tough to know when to visit the Gardens because throughout the season the blooms are different. What I saw won’t be there later in the season and what blooms later isn’t there now. And of course, every year the blooms are entirely different. For example, because it was a mild winter, the blooms came 2+ weeks earlier than normal. The sentiment reminded me of life- there’s never a “perfect” time to go to Hawaii or say, “I love you” or choose a new city to live in. Like life, you just have to take a leap and trust that the decision you make is the right one at the right moment. And if it’s not, well, it all works out in the end, otherwise, it’s not the end 😉
Posted in 10 Cities, 100 Discoveries
10 Kisses, 100 Discoveries: #7 Sugared Poffertjes
I have one deal breaker. Mae West says kissing is a man’s signature. Signature or not, it also tells you everything you need to know about a man. 1 Year, 10 Projects, 100 Discoveries started with 10 Guys, 10 Weeks, 10 Drinks. The sequel is 10 Kisses, 10 Tastes. This post is part of that project. You can see all 10 kisses here and the entire project here. Get ready to pucker up, I am!
My favorite part about Amsterdam were the men. Blond hair, blue eyes and strapping; just the way I like them. And just the way pictures of Dutch men looked.
Hans (not his real name) made the best Poffertjes (aka mini pancakes) I’ve ever had. Hot and fresh with a dab of butter and a sprinkle of sugar. He got a kick out of introducing them to me and watching as I took pictures. He liked it even more when I came back for seconds. While scrumptious, the second round was more for the eye candy 🙂
After serving them, he walked with me along one of the flower paths at Keukenhof until we stopped under the cherry trees. So sure of his footing, I had a feeling he had taken this walk a few times. But, I didn’t mind. His smell of sugar and pancakes mingled with the sickly sweet smell of flowers. And the kiss? Tender and light but with a confidence behind it that tasted like honey with a hint of chocolate.
Posted in 10 Kisses, 100 Discoveries
Take it to the Limit
We all struggle to find a balance between living, working and playing. At least, I hope I’m not the only one 🙂 As a person who takes everything to the extreme and never does anything halfway, I’m honestly struggling to find the right balance. Currently, I’m playing and playing hard all throughout Europe. I’m also trying to work a little. But, it’s hard. Maybe it would be easier if I treated Europe more like I was living here vs. being a tourist. But, when you’re living from hotel to hotel, that’s hard too.
I wonder if we’ll ever find the right balance between living, working and playing.
Posted in Thoughts